30 ON THE PICEA NOBILIS, AND ITS VALUE FOR 



as hardy, and thrives and grows \vith equal rapidity, in this 

 moorland soil at 650 feet altitude, as in the rich red loam at 

 Balgowan at only 200 feet. By his kindness, we are able to give 

 the exact progress of the tree (No. 14) referred to in our table: — 

 Planted in 1844, and then about a foot in height, it had attained 

 in 1850 to 8 feet, and its subsequent progress has been as 

 follows : — 



1857, 23 ft. liigh, 1 ft. 6 in. circumference, at 3 ft. from ground. 

 1864, 34 „ 2 ft. 

 1867, 41 „ 2 ft. 7 in. 



1878, 56 „ 4 It. 7 in. 



At the lower altitude, although in better but drier soil and 

 subsoil, it does not develop so rapidly in bole circumference. 

 This has also been observed in other localities under similar 

 conditions. Indeed, its peculiar suitability for liigh altitudes 

 above sea-level is veiy abundantly testified to by our returns 

 from different districts. In Wales, for instance, there are various 

 high situations from which good specimens are reported. We 

 find them at St Asaph, Hafodunos, and at Abergele, Denbighshire, 

 it luxuriates at 700 to 800 feet above the sea in a stony and 

 poor soil on hard till subsoil. Planted there in 1857, it is now 

 to be found over 35 feet in height. 



In this situation, also, are to be found fine healthy specimens 

 of Fagus hetuloidcs and other hard-wooded trees, and for the last 

 thirteen years Pinus muricata has produced annually loads of 

 cones. Pinus Pinsapo, P. hradeata, Picea Nordmanniana, and P. 

 lasiocarjpa, also thrive well at the same altitudes, which supports 

 the theory now generally understood, that the newer coniferpe do 

 not suffer in this country from being planted in suitable positions 

 at such a lofty elevation as even 600 to 800 feet above the sea- 

 level. Indeed they all, and P. nohilis equally with the other 

 varieties, will generally be found least satisfactory in low situa- 

 tions, where they are more exposed to late spring frosty nights 

 and prevalence of damp fogs. It must not, however, be assumed 

 from these remarks that the P. nohilis cannot be profitably 

 planted at loio altitudes. We have recorded numerous instances 

 where even almost at sea-level it is succeeding well in this 

 country. For instance, at Gordon Castle, Fochabers, at only 70 

 feet above sea-level, young plants are thriving admirably, and 

 although not yet so fully estabhshed as to be making rapid 

 growths annually, they are quite equal to the common silver fir 

 in that respect. The soil is a dark loam on a subsoil of gravel. 

 At Taymouth (360 feet altitude) it is as hardy as the common 

 spruce. In Greenock Cemetery, at 80 feet altitude, in good 

 shallow loam over trap-rock, it is to be found now 30 feet in 

 height, and thriving well, although it is sometimes browned by 



